Get down on bended knee

Article By: Amy Rispel

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 10:15 AM

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It's been a few months (or years) of blissful love with the woman of your dreams. Now it's time to take the plunge into the world of marriage...But where to start? Most women have high expectations for that moment you go down on bended knee and ask for their hand... Which means the proposal is not a moment to take lightly.

Once you've decided to propose, it's time to start thinking about how you'll do it. The key elements are to be original, make sure it's unique to your relationship and work with what you have.

One of the sweetest marriage proposals I recently saw was a technologically-minded guy who uploaded his proposal onto YouTube and told his girl that he had a hilarious home video to show her.

The gesture was thoughtful and unique, particularly as the guy used what he had to create his own special message. By using what you have, and combined with some creativity, you'll pop the big question the way you were meant to.

Here are a few quick ideas to spark inspiration:

Happy snaps

If you’re a good photographer, take a different picture of each letter spelling out the big question and get her to “sort” the puzzle out.

Indulge her inner foodie

Book dinner at your favourite restaurant and ask the chef to write “Will you marry me?” in chocolate sauce on her dessert plate.

Ask a baker to ice a cake with the words “Will you marry me?” and have the cake displayed in the window – as you casually walk by…

You could even pop the big question through a fortune cookie.

Serenade her

If you have a musical talent, serenade her or make a mix tape of songs that holds special meaning or write your own song.

Go big

On the route she takes to work place a big poster with the big question and her name. Make sure you are at her work to seal the deal once she arrives.

Wrap the velvet ring box in a set of bigger boxes so she thinks her “surprise gift” from you is huge and once she reaches the last box, get down on one knee.

Play a game

Play charades where she must try and guess the phrase "Will you marry me?" Alternatively play scrabble – ensuring you have the letters that spell out "Will you marry me?"

Doodle your love

If you're an artist, draw a cartoon of you asking her “Will you marry me” – which you can always frame as a keepsake – or paint a picture on canvas of you on bended knee.

If you lack the words…

Create a blog account and post how much you love her using pictures and videos, followed by “Will you marry me?” at the end of the post. Once you’ve published the post, send her the link.

Place sweet notes in different spots around the house. In each spot, write something that you love about your sweetheart, and where to find the next note. In the last note say "For all these reasons and more, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. “Will you marry me?"

Leave a handwritten note telling her all the reasons she’s “the one” then end it off by popping the big question and leave it in a book she’s currently reading making sure you're around when she starts reading.

Let nature inspire you

Write “Will you marry me?" on some recycled paper or parchment then place it in a bottle.

Write it in the snow or sand or in the frost on her windscreen.

Propose in a flower garden or in a field where all the flowers are in bloom.

Create a path with flower petals to you on bended knee with the engagement ring.

Write a message in invisible ink or paint a message in glow-in-the-dark ink and turn off the lights.

Some proposal no-no's

According to a survey done on website, theknot.com, going down on one knee without a ring ranked as number one in the biggest marriage proposals mistakes that men could make.

Jumping the gun and proposing too early also ranked as a top mistake, while proposing in front of an audience or family was also considered a big no-no.

Whatever you choose to do, make your proposal sincere and heartfelt and you'll win extra brownie points from your bride-to-be.